Book VII · OBILOT, part 6 of 11

¶Whosoe'er, by true love constrainèd, hath felt of true love the pain, 435 Then his heart, as right well ye know it, doth forfeit to Love remain, And so doth she change and rule it that no mouth can the wonder speak, Be it heart of man or of maiden on which she her will would wreak, And the wise doth she bend to folly. Now the twain they were lovers true, King Meljanz and maiden Obie--His anger ye needs must rue, 440 Since in wrath he had ridden from her; of sorrow such load she bare That her spirit was moved to anger unfitting a maiden fair. And, guiltless, must Gawain suffer, and others must feel her pain; She had womanly ways forsaken when she gave to her wrath the rein. Whene'er she beheld the hero as a thorn was he to her sight, 445 For her heart was fain that Meljanz be held for the bravest knight, And she thought, 'Doth he bring me sorrow, then sorrow I'll gladly bear, O'er all the world do I love him, my hero, so young and fair, And my heart for his love aye yearneth.' Oft anger from love doth grow, Nor blame ye o'er-much the maiden if her love she by wrath would show. 450

¶Now list how he spake, her father, as he looked on the Knight Gawain And bade him a kindly welcome--In this wise he spake again, 'Sir Knight, it may be that thy coming the dawn of our bliss hath been; Thro' many a land have I journeyed, but no face have I ever seen So fair to mine eyes as thy face. In this our day of grief 455 Thy coming shall bring us comfort, thro' thee may we find relief.' Then he prayed him take part in the conflict--'If harness shall lack to thee All thou needest will I prepare thee, so here thou wilt fight for me.'

¶Then out quoth the gallant Gawain, 'That would I of right goodwill, I am strong, and well armed for battle, yet from strife must I hold me still, 460 Nor fight till the hour appointed; or else would I gladly fare As thou farest, the fate of battle with thee were I fain to share. But now must I needs forego it, for 'tis fitting I first should fight With the foeman to whom I pledged me on mine honour as faithful knight. By the favour I claim from all true knights my fame must I there defend 465 Or die on the field--To this conflict, Sir Knight, I my way would wend!'

¶Then a grief were his words to Lippaut, and he quoth, 'By thy knightly fame, And thy courtesy, do thou hear me, for free shall I be from blame. Two daughters have I, and I love them, and dear to my heart are they, In the joy God in them hath given would I live to my dying day. 470 Yea, well is me for my children, tho' sorrow thro' them I win, And the one of my two fair daughters methinks hath her share therein, And unlike, tho' alike, we share it--for thro' Love doth my lord and king Work sorrow to her, and thro' Hatred his forces 'gainst me would bring. And thus do I read the riddle, my lord worketh ill to me, 475 Since a son I lack, but I wot well that my daughters shall dearer be. What, then, if for them I suffer? Then my woe do I count for weal-- Who hath never an heir save his daughter, tho' the sword ne'er her grip may feel, Yet other defence may she bring him, she may win him a son and heir; And such is my hope!'--Quoth Gawain, 'God grant thee this favour fair!' 480

¶Then Lippaut he sorely pressed him, 'In God's name give thy pleading o'er,' Spake the son of King Lot, 'I pray thee, of thy courtesy ask no more, Nor let me betray mine honour--Yet this will I do, Sir Knight, I will think the thing o'er, and my answer shalt thou have ere it draw to night.'

¶Then he thanked him, the prince, and he rode forth; in the courtyard he found alway 485 His child with the Burg-grave's daughter; with rings did the maidens play. 'Now, daughter mine, whence camest thou?' thus to Obilot he spake, 'Father, I came from the castle, to the strange knight my way I'ld take, I would pray him as knight to serve me, methinks he will hear my prayer, And do for my sake such service as winneth rewarding fair!' 490 'Nay, I fear me, my little daughter, for he saith me nor yea, nor nay, But plead thou as I have pleaded.' To the guest did she run straightway.

¶So came she to Gawain's chamber, he greeted her courteously, At her fairy feet he sat him, and thanked her that, maidenly, She spake for him to her sister; and he quoth, 'Now if ever a knight 495 Had fought for so small a maiden, I were ready for thee to fight!'

¶Then the little maiden tender spake out so frank and free, 'Sir Knight, as God is witness, the first man thou aye shalt be With whom I have held free converse; if in this my maiden shame And my courtesy I wrong not, then joy as reward I claim! 500 For ever my mistress taught me how speech is the crown of thought, And I pray thee, Sir Knight, to help us--Thro' sorrow thine aid I sought; An thou wilt, all our need I'll tell thee, nor do thou be wroth with me, For I do as befits a maiden, and my prayer to myself shall be. For altho' our name be diverse, yet methinks that thou art I, 505 Take thou my name, and maiden and knight art thou verily. This grace from us both do I pray here, and if I from hence must go Ashamed, and my prayer unanswered, then, Sir Knight, I would have thee know That thy knightly fame must answer to thy knightly courtesy, Since my maidenhood sought for shelter in vain in thy chivalry. 510 But if thou indeed wilt hearken, and do me this thing I ask, With a true heart true love I'll give thee as rewarding for knightly task.'

¶'And art thou true man and courteous, then surely thou'lt do my will, For see, wilt thou serve a maiden, I am worthy thy service still. 'Tis true that my father kinsman and cousin for help hath prayed, 515 But for that shalt thou not refuse us, for my love shalt thou give thine aid!'